Molding bolt for running boards and the like



June 19, 1951 B, sTElNMAN 2,557,773

MOLDING BOLT FOR RUNNING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25, 1949 ign ffy@ z5 25 a j 1 5 flea f -l- 6 2l f I8 Z3 [8 21a" "2 lm\\\\\m\\u\\\\\\- 17 mi 1 23 zo /ea 22 Q/a 2l Z2 /6 77a "-Wa INVENTOR. Ec/NsTE/NMAN Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLDING BOLT FOR RUNNING BOARDS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a moulding-bolt for running board mouldings or rails of automobiles, or for other similar purposes.

The salient feature of v my invention is the process and method of cutting up a strip of thin fiat material, preferably of steel or any suitable durable material, whereby small width bars are produced with a central opening in which a bolt and nut may be secured in an intermediate panel located between grooved portions, which are adjustably used in the inner channel portions of a running board moulding, by readily detaching or cutting off the required grooved sections to lit that particular size moulding, thereby providing for the trade a variable adjusting moulding bolt.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of altering the grooved portions as by having all of grooved sections on one end only, or with more or less grooved portions on both ends, but it is believed the equal number of grooved sections on each end of the bar piece, provides a more durable adjusting means, in which the intermediate smooth portion without the grooves provides a greater factor of safety and strength to hold rmly the running board moulding or rail, as the serving of grooved sections on each end may be made equally in proportion.

Another feature of my invention is the grooves or indentatons may be on both sides of the bar piece, but this may require a greater thickness of material and add to the cost in production without any material advantage.

A further feature of my invention is that the grooves and bolt holes may be formed in the full strip, or in the cut pieces therefrom during the same cutting operation.

Other features of my invention will appear in the following specification, accompanied by the annexed drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of a fragmentary portion of a strip of metal provided with grooved portions and bolt openings,

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of same strip shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows the other smooth side of a cut piece as served on spaced dot-dash lines in Figure l,

Figure 4 shows the bolt to be inserted in opening of the cut bar piece, and a nut therewith, in an exploded view,

Figure 5 shows the same cut bar piece on the grooved side thereof,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the cut bar piece shown in Figure 5, with the attached bolt 2 and nut thereto, in which it may be known now as my moulding-bolt,`

Figure '7 is the rear smooth side of my mouldingbolt as shown in Figures 5 and 6,

Figure 8 shows my moulding-bolt with two grooved sections as indicated in dot-dash lines, severed or cut off, thereby providing the adjusted length required for that particular running board moulding, in which it is to be fitted into the channel portions thereof,

Figure 9 shows the same moulding-bolt shown in Figure 8 secured into the channel portions of a running board moulding to a support therewith,

Figure 10 is a similar view, except my moulding-bolt is shown adjustably fitted in a moulding having different .size or channel lengths, whereby more grooved sections at one end may be cut off than the other end, so as to bring the bolt in the open space therebetween,

Figure 11 shows my moulding-bolt having all of the grooved sections on one end only, and

Figure l2 is a fragmentary sectional view of my moulding-bolt having grooved portions on both sides thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I5 designates a strip of metallic material having grooved or scored portions I and grooved slits Ia, and an inner panel portion Il therebetween, all in parallel relationship to each other, spaced openings I8 being provided in between dot-dash lines I9, whereat, the strip is cut into small width bar pieces 2li, in which a bolt 2| and nut are attached, thereby completing my moulding-bolt 2i).

AAs an alternative process of making, the strip may be without grooved portions and openings I8, and during the cutting of the desired width piece of moulding-bolt 26, the grooves and bolt opening may be formed simultaneously with each bar cut on lines I9.

In Figures 5 to 7, inclusive, my moulding-bolt 29 is clearly shown with the bolt and nut attached, the bolt having a suitable head 2 la. and square shank portion 23, so the bolt will not turn when applying the nut 22 on support S, see Figures 9 and l0, the head, together with the thickness of my moulding-bolt bar piece 20, are of sufficient dimensions to clear the inner space of channel portions 28.

In Figure 10, a moulding of different size channel portions 28, may be adaptly fitted by severing off at one end more sections I6, so as Vto bring the bolt 2l in center of the open space therebetween, this arrangement could use the moulding-bolt shown in Figure 11, if so desired.

In Figure 12, grooved or corrugated sections may be formed on both sides of sheet metal bar pieces 20, but will add to the cost of production, and may or may not be adopted.

It can now be readily understood that I have produced a special article of manufacture comprising a molding bolt including a thin oblong plate or bar 2l! xed together and constituting a unitary construction whereby the threaded shank of the bolt 2l may also serve as a handle to manipulate the plate and bolt unit along the channel of a hollow molding strip to a desired position. It is contemplated that the molding strip will have substantially coplanar .inturned flanges but arranged in spaced relation to each other thereby providing a molding strip having one open side whereby the plate 20 may be easily inserted into the strip.

The plate 20 is provided withgrooves or scorings I6 in spaced relation from the bolt shank 2| and in spaced relation from each other. The grooves are arranged transversely of the plate or bar 20 and constitute weakened lines whereby a section of the plate 20 may be readily severed from the plate along any selected'weakened line or groove I6. While the plate 20 is preferably rectangular in general or plan contour, it is contemplated that it may be of any suitable contour providing it is elongated or oblong having at least initially a major and a minor axis.

Except for the grooved portions the plate is of substantially uniform thickness and may be of uniform width but such uniform width is not necessary providing the plate is of sufficient thickness, stiffness, tenacity and strength to bear without undue distortion or breakage the holding and retaining stress and or strain of the shank and nut 22 when installed, notwithstanding the presence of the grooves.

The particular plate disclosed on the drawings represents substantially a parallelepipedon.

The complete length of the plate 20 contemplates use of my unit with the widest molding strip that is likely to be encountered and such a strip may be designated as a molding .strip of maximum width. Since my molding bolt unit is provided with readily severable sections, it is contemplated that the plate 20 may be reduced in length by removing the sections necessary so that the remainder of plate 20 may be received in any molding strip narrower than a strip of maximum width.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exactness of the parts shown in the drawing, and reserve the right to improve or alter same, providing same come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A molding bolt unit for use in hollow molding strips having inturned substantially coplanar but spaced flanges, said unit comprising a bolt 6 having a screw threaded shank in combination 4 with an oblong fiat plate, said bolt projecting from one side only of said plate and said plate being secured intermediate its ends to one end of said bolt, said plate having grooves therein arranged transversely of its major axis, said grooves being spaced from said bolt and from each other,` said grooves constituting weakened lines whereby a section or sections of said plate may be readily severed therefrom and thereby reduce the length of said plate to accommodate its use to narrower molding strips than the maximum width contemplated, said bolt being plain and freefrom projections between its screw threads and said plate, said screw threaded shank serving as a handle whereby said plate and bolt may be manipulated to locate said plate to a suitable position within said molding strip, said plate being adapted to be applied to and bridge the spaced anges of the hollow molding strips of various widths, said plate being of sufficient thickness, tenacity, strength and stiffness to vbear the load of holding stress and or strain of the threaded shank when installed notwithstanding the presence of the transverse grooves, in further combination With a screw threaded-nut on said screw threaded shank.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1, Wherein said bolt is provided with a suitable head, said shank penetrating said plate intermediate its ends, said head and shank being secured to said plate, said grooves being parallel to each other and being at substantially a right angle to said plate.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which said plate constitutes a parallelepipedon and said shank extends substantially at a right angle from a central portion of said plate.

LEON B. STEINMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 291,202 Koch Jan. 1, 1884 405,057 Taylor June 11, 1889 1,076,836 Merwin Oct. 28, 1913 1,246,453 Murnane Nov. 13, 1917 5f) 1,353,641 Kraft Nov. 9, 1920 1,402,775 Murnane Jan. 10, 1922 1,485,950 Biedermann Mar. 4, 1924 1,511,746 Noll Oct. 14, 1924 1,570,801 Vollrath Jan. 26, 1926 1,659,690 Brandle May l5, 1923 1,811,262 De Sana June 23, 1931 2,212,145 Benander .Aug. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 149,866 Great Britain 1920 

